Usman Khawaja finally found form again to stroke a fine century Sunday and steer Australia into a massive lead over Sri Lanka as the tourists battle to stay in the second Test at Canberra. At stumps, the visitors were 17 without loss, chasing a huge 516 to win with two days remaining after Tim Paine declared Australia's second innings at 196 for three. Dimuth Karunaratne and Lahiru Thirimanne were both unbeaten on eight, weathering some 30 minutes before bad light stopped play slightly early.
Sri Lanka had resumed the third day at 123 for three and in a hostile morning session lost four wickets and Kusal Perera, who retired after being hit on the head by a bouncer. Their resistence folded in the second over after lunch, with Mitchell Starc taking five wickets to leave them trailing by 319 after Australia's first innings 534 for five declared.
Paine opted against the follow-on in Australia's last Test batting opportunity before the Ashes tour to England later this year. Khawaja padded up knowing his place in that squad was in doubt after managing a high-score of just 72 across six Tests in a lacklustre summer. He responded in emphatic fashion, smashing his eighth Test ton off 134 balls. "Obviously getting a hundred and setting up another game that we can hopefully win, that's the ultimate feeling for the team and for myself," said Khawaja, who admitted it had been a tough few months on and off the field.
Scoreboard
Australia 1st innings 534-5 dec (J. Burns 180, T. Head 161, K. Patterson 114 no; Fernando 3-126)
Sri Lanka 1st innings 215 (D. Karunaratne 59; M. Starc 5-54)
Australia 2nd innings 196-3 dec (U. Khawaja 101 no, T. Head 59 no; Rajitha 2-64)
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Sri Lanka 2nd innings
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D. Karunaratne not out 8
L. Thirimanne not out 8
Extras: (lb1) 1
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Total: (no wkts; 6 overs) 17
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Did not bat: Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Niroshan Dickwella, Dilruwan Perera, Chamika Karunaratne, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha
Fall of wickets: Bowling: Starc 3-1-6-0, Richardson 2-0-9-0, Lyon 1-0-1-0
Toss: Australia
Umpires: Richard Illingworth (ENG), Michael Gough (ENG)
TV umpire: Marais Erasmus (RSA)
Match referee: Javagal Srinath (IND).
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